Installing Drupal Commons

Install xampp, or anything with Apache and MySQL

Create a database with any name for your Drupal Commons installation.

Get your download here:
https://network.acquia.com/downloads/drupal-commons

Extract these files, and move the resulting Drupal file directory structure into the web root, or any sub folder.

Configure a settings.php file from the example ( default.settings.php ) file provided.

Edit this line with your database information:
$db_url = 'mysql://username:password@localhost/databasename';

The simplest example ( only fun for a development site ) is:

$db_url = 'mysql://root@localhost/database_name';
Save settings.php

*** You will probably need to edit php.ini here to allow a maximum_execution longer than 30 seconds, this is a common fail. Try 300. Remember to restart Apache for the php.ini settings to take effect.

Use a web browser to execute the install.php file in the folder containing the installation.